Zamafara killing: Buhari vows justice for victims

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the killing of persons in Talata Mafara, Zamafara State over an alleged blasphemy, with a promise that perpetrators will be made to face the law.

“I received news of the mob killings in Zamfara with great dismay. It is barbaric and unacceptable. I assure that the law will take its course,” the president said on Tuesday.

“Under my watch, we will work to ensure that there is no place for violence in the name of religion, ethnicity, or in any guise whatsoever,” he added.

“Eight people were killed in the house by the mob over the alleged blasphemy,” Zamfara state police spokesman Shehu Mohammed told AFP of the incident, which happened on Monday.

He said the mob of students in the town of Talata Mafara were enraged over alleged derogatory comments about the Prophet Mohammed by their Christian schoolmate, who they attacked.

He said the victim was rescued by a passerby, a Muslim who rushed him to the police station for safety.

The mob then burned down the house of the rescuer with eight people inside.

“The man who rescued the student and his wife were not among the dead,” the police spokesman said.

He said police has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the town while the students’ school has been closed down to prevent further violence.